--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If my work is accepted, I must move on to…" description: "\"“If my work is accepted, I must move on to the point where it is not.”\" — John Cage" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/john-cage-2094_acceptance_if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to_2514884.png" --- # If my work is accepted, I must move on to the point where… ![“If my work is accepted, I must move on to the point where it is not.” quote by John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/john-cage-2094_acceptance_if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to_2514884.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/john-cage-2094_acceptance_if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to_2514884.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/john-cage-2094_acceptance_if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to_2514884.png) > ““If my work is accepted, I must move on to the point where it is not.”” [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creator must continuously evolve beyond acceptance, never settling for the status quo. **In simple terms:** Never stop growing after success. Key Takeaway Keep pushing beyond comfort. Themes creativity growth innovation Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career development - artistic practice - personal reinvention Key Concepts artistic evolution self‑transcendence Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when to move on? - What risks arise from staying complacent? A Different Perspective Even after acceptance, fear of stagnation can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Accepted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepted/) [Accepted Point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepted-point-1192901/) [Avant garde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avant-garde/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Modernism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modernism/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Novelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelty/) [Point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point/) [Populism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/populism/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Accepted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-accepted-792682/) ## Related quotes > [My work's never been accepted by my family, but it's something I'll always carry on with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-vegas/my-work-s-never-been-accepted-by-my-family-but-it-s-something-i-ll/) [Johnny Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-vegas/) > [Often, African-Americans' work is accepted as if we did something artistic by happenstance. It's almost like, 'They make TV shows the same way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/often-african-americans-work-is-accepted-as-if-we-did-something/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [I'm a fatalist… I consider I am rejected in principle. My work is and, through my work, I am. If it's accepted, it's miraculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-m-a-fatalist-i-consider-i-am-rejected-in-principle-my-work-is-and/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [Even in Indian cinema, there is so much work that I have accepted because I'm comfortable and so much I have declined because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/even-in-indian-cinema-there-is-so-much-work-that-i-have-accepted/) [Aishwarya Rai Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/) > [You were told how much space so it was a matter of whether you could send in two paintings or three paintings, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/you-were-told-how-much-space-so-it-was-a-matter-of-whether-you-could/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [ “\[...\] a familiar art historical narrative \[...\] celebrates the triumph of the expressive individual over the collective, of innovation over tradition, and autonomy over… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-h-kester/a-familiar-art-historical-narrative-celebrates-the-triumph-of-the/) [Grant H. Kester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-h-kester/) > [Publishing has gone very middlebrow. It's turned its back on legacy of modernism and gone into a humanist mode. When people go through art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-mccarthy/publishing-has-gone-very-middlebrow-it-s-turned-its-back-on-legacy-of/) [Tommy McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-mccarthy/) > [Avant-garde art jousts with propriety, but takes care never to unseat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/avant-garde-art-jousts-with-propriety-but-takes-care-never-to-unseat/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [We have learned so well how to absorb novelty that receptivity itself has turned into a kind of tradition- "the tradition of the new."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hofstadter/we-have-learned-so-well-how-to-absorb-novelty-that-receptivity-itself/) [Richard Hofstadter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hofstadter/) > [Globalization is a reality. And this makes most leaders today realize that populist illusions can't be sustained before they collapse into stagnation and leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-henrique-cardoso/globalization-is-a-reality-and-this-makes-most-leaders-today-realize/) [Fernando Henrique Cardoso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-henrique-cardoso/) > [I chose to start Schwarzman Scholars because I saw the potential for the world to become focused and unhappy with China, in large part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/i-chose-to-start-schwarzman-scholars-because-i-saw-the-potential-for/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [This work is either useless or harmful, because there is nothing good about populism. If you wanted to hear my opinion on this issue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/this-work-is-either-useless-or-harmful-because-there-is-nothing-good/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The problem is some of the populism on both the far left and the far right, it can make a Tweet but not make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/the-problem-is-some-of-the-populism-on-both-the-far-left-and-the-far/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [The rise of populism is in part a response to stagnating incomes and job loss, owing mostly to new technologies but widely attributed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/the-rise-of-populism-is-in-part-a-response-to-stagnating-incomes-and/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## More by John Cage > [If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/if-something-is-boring-after-two-minutes-try-it-for-four-if-still/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [ It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic \[totally silent\] chamber not expecting in that silent room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years-ago-that-i-went-into-an/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [So somebody has talent? So what? Dime a dozen. And we're overpopulated. Actually we have more food than we have people and more art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/so-somebody-has-talent-so-what-dime-a-dozen-and-we-re-overpopulated/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [“...the important questions are answered by not liking only but disliking and accepting equally what one likes and dislikes. Otherwise there is no access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-important-questions-are-answered-by-not-liking-only-but-disliking/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [The material of music is sound and silence. Integrating these is composing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-material-of-music-is-sound-and-silence-integrating-these-is/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [There is poetry as soon as we realize that we possess nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/there-is-poetry-as-soon-as-we-realize-that-we-possess-nothing/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [To see, one must go beyond the imiagination and for that one must stand absolutely still as though at the center of a leap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/to-see-one-must-go-beyond-the-imiagination-and-for-that-one-must/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Value judgments are destructive to our proper business, which is curiosity and awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/value-judgments-are-destructive-to-our-proper-business-which-is/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Our intention is to affirm this life, not to bring order out of chaos, nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply to wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/our-intention-is-to-affirm-this-life-not-to-bring-order-out-of-chaos/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [There are some good people in it, but the orchestra as a whole is equivalent to a gang bent on destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/there-are-some-good-people-in-it-but-the-orchestra-as-a-whole-is/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Art's purpose is to sober and quiet the mind so that it is in accord with what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/art-s-purpose-is-to-sober-and-quiet-the-mind-so-that-it-is-in-accord/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [People who aren't artists often feel that artists are inspired. But if you work at your art you don't have time to be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/people-who-aren-t-artists-often-feel-that-artists-are-inspired-but-if/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [“Farting, don't think, just fart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/farting-don-t-think-just-fart/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Not one sound fears the silence that extinguishes it. And no silence exists that is not pregnant with sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/not-one-sound-fears-the-silence-that-extinguishes-it-and-no-silence/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [My work became an exploration of non-intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/my-work-became-an-exploration-of-non-intention/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) [Explore all 186 John Cage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If my work is accepted, I must move on to the point where it is not.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cage" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to-the-point-where-it-is-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to-the-point-where-it-is-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/john-cage-2094_acceptance_if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to_2514884.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/john-cage-2094_acceptance_if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to_2514884.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/john-cage-2094_acceptance_if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to_2514884.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If my work is accepted, I must move on to the point where it is not.” — John Cage", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Cage", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If my work is accepted, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to-the-point-where-it-is-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/if-my-work-is-accepted-i-must-move-on-to-the-point-where-it-is-not/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```